Two West Coast utilities — one private- and the other public-sector — are leading the nation in offering green power programs to retail customers, according to the Department of Energy (DOE). Portland General Electric (PGE) in Oregon has more renewable energy customers than any utility in the nation, DOE’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) indicated in national rankings released Tuesday. At the end of 2010, PGE had nearly 78,000 residential and business customers, or 12.6% of its eligible customers, enrolled in a renewable power program, well ahead of the national average of 2%. Portland, OR-based PGE led the nation in renewable sales in 2010 for the sixth consecutive year. In California the Santa Clara municipal utility, Silicon Valley Power, is in the top 10 nationally with its green power program, drawing more than 100 businesses and nearly 4,000 homes to the program, NREL’s report confirmed. Silicon Valley sold more than 70,000 MWh of green-based power last year.
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Pennsylvania Legislator Proposes Stiff Marcellus Impact Fee
Revenue raised through a proposed impact fee that would cost Marcellus Shale drillers a minimum $10,000 per well annually is needed to help close a project $4.2 billion budget gap in Pennsylvania, according to state Senate President Pro Tempore Joe Scarnati (R-Jefferson).
California Utility Pipeline Operators Struggle with ‘New Era’
In what one of the utilities has designated as a “new era” in natural gas transmission pipeline safety and maintenance programs, California’s two major utility pipeline operators for thousands of miles of intrastate, high-pressure pipelines told state regulators Monday that there are still gaps in some of their pipeline recordkeeping in high-population areas such as the San Bruno neighborhood that was devastated by a pipeline rupture last September.
NARUC Sets Gas Pipeline Safety Task Force
The nation’s association of state regulators on Tuesday established a new working group to address natural gas pipeline safety advocacy programs that have taken on renewed emphasis after a series of major accidents in the pipeline industry in the past six months.
Encana to Accelerate Development Through Partnerships
The pace of development at Encana Corp. was hampered in 2010 by low natural gas prices, but farm-ins, partnerships and joint ventures (JV) similar to the $5.4 billion transaction with an affiliate of PetroChina International Ltd. will help the company double its production growth over the next five years, CEO Randy Eresman said Thursday.
No Formula to Duplicate U.S. Unconventional Success, Says IEA Official
Dozens of countries have launched programs to attempt to emulate the successful exploitation of shale in the United States, but it will take more than copying a formula, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
No Formula to Duplicate U.S. Unconventional Success, Says IEA Official
Dozens of countries have launched programs to attempt to emulate the successful exploitation of shale in the United States, but it will take more than copying a formula, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Shale Gas Boom in India? First Well Completed
With the booming U.S. industry players keeping a close eye out for the opening of global markets, India reported completing its first shale gas well Tuesday as some observers of the Indian energy space speculate that the nation may have its largest natural gas deposits locked in shale. U.S. oilfield services provider Schlumberger drilled India’s first well.
California’s Brown Recommits to Renewables
Promising “painful” budget recommendations to come, California Gov. Jerry Brown reaffirmed his commitment to renewable energy and efficiency programs as part of a sobering inaugural speech following his swearing in last Monday in Sacramento as the 39th governor of the state. Missing in his brief remarks was any mention of climate change, environmental issues or traditional fossil fuels.
California’s Brown Recommits to Renewables
Promising “painful” budget recommendations to come, California Gov. Jerry Brown reaffirmed his commitment to renewable energy and efficiency programs as part of a sobering inaugural speech following his swearing in Monday in Sacramento as the 39th governor of the state. Missing in his brief remarks was any mention of climate change, environmental issues or traditional fossil fuels.
